Wring — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈriŋ/

Meaning & Definition of Wring

Wring (verb)

  1. to squeeze or twist especially so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid
  2. to extract or obtain by or as if by twisting and compressing
  3. to twist so as to strain or sprain into a distorted shape

Wring (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to get (as money) by the use of force or threats

    "that bill collector is willing to do anything to wring money out of deadbeats"

    similar: exact, extort, wrest
    related: bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze, cheat, racketeer, swindle, coerce, compel, force

  2. to get with great difficulty

    "after years of trying to wring a decent profit out of the business, he is finally giving up"

    similar: eke (out), scrape (up or together), scrounge, squeeze, wrest
    related: acquire, attain, draw, earn, gain, land, obtain, procure, secure

  3. to move by or as if by a forceful rotation

    "I'm so mad I could wring your neck"

    similar: twist, wrench, wrest
    related: draw, dredge (up), extract, jerk, lug, pluck, pull, tug, tweak, yank, jimmy, lever, pry, budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, remove, shift, transfer, transpose

  4. to draw out by force or with effort

    "willing to use torture if necessary in order to wring the information out of the terrorist"

    similar: corkscrew, extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wrest, yank
    related: mine, pluck, remove, take (out), withdraw
    near: implant, insert, install, instill, cram, jam, ram, stuff, wedge

Related Entry: Wring (out) (verb)

Wring (out) is a different word from Wring. The synonyms below are for wring (out), not for wring.

  1. as in dry, drain

    similar: dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, sear, drain, empty, void, dehumidify
    opposite: drench, drown, impregnate, macerate, saturate, soak, sodden, sop, souse, steep, waterlog, water-soak, marinate, seethe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Wring

The most common words with a similar meaning to Wring:

exact, extort, wrest, eke (out), scrape (up or together), scrounge, squeeze, twist, wrench, corkscrew, extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, yank

Related Words for Wring

bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, cheat, racketeer, swindle, coerce, compel, force, acquire, attain, draw, earn, gain, land, obtain, procure, secure, dredge (up), jerk, lug, pluck, tug, tweak, jimmy, lever, budge, dislocate

Near Antonyms of Wring

implant, insert, install, instill, cram, jam, ram, stuff, wedge

Word Forms of Wring

Inflections: wrung, wringing

Derived words: wring (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Wring

Middle English, from Old English wringan; akin to Old High German ringan to struggle, Lithuanian rengtis to bend down, Old English wyrgan to strangle worry

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Wring

wring dry, wring one's hands, wring someone's neck

Frequently Asked Questions about Wring

What does "Wring" mean?

"Wring" means to squeeze or twist especially so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid. As a verb, it is defined as: to squeeze or twist especially so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Wring"?

Other words for "Wring" include exact, extort, wrest, eke (out), scrape (up or together), scrounge, squeeze and twist. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Wring" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Wring"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Wring". Common alternatives include exact, extort, wrest, eke (out), scrape (up or together), scrounge, squeeze, twist, wrench and corkscrew.

How do you use "Wring" in a sentence?

Examples of "Wring" in a sentence: "that bill collector is willing to do anything to wring money out of deadbeats"; "after years of trying to wring a decent profit out of the business, he is finally giving up"; "I'm so mad I could wring your neck".

Is "Wring" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Wring" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Wring"?

"Wring" is pronounced /ˈriŋ/.

What is the origin of the word "Wring"?

"Wring" comes from Middle English, from Old English wringan; akin to Old High German ringan to struggle, Lithuanian rengtis to bend down, Old English wyrgan to strangle worry. First known use: before 12th centuryt.

What is another word for "Wring" meaning "to get (as money) by the use of force or threats"?

When "Wring" (verb) means to get (as money) by the use of force or threats, synonyms include exact, extort and wrest.